In the past girls from our area - including Normanby’s Ailish Shaw and Saltburn’s Beth Dooley - have had to enter competitions outside of Teesside such as Miss Newcastle GB to feed into Miss Great Britain.

Miss North East GB director Simon Robertson said: “We have great, great girls from the Teesside area - and it’s just about giving them an opportunity that they haven’t had before really.

“We are thrilled to be bringing this event to the North-east.

“For the first time we will be crowning four winners on the same night, making it the biggest beauty competition in the North-east.

“The evening will be spectacular with catwalk, dinner, entertainment and the iconic glamour of the stage, screen and fashion worlds in one night!”

The grand finale event, organised by Headline Models and One Voice Productions, together with Metro Radio and TFM, will see sixty overall finalists, fifteen representing each area, take part in a series of rounds to win their respective titles.

Each winner will receive a selection of prizes, a modelling contract and go on to represent their region in the Miss Great Britain Grand Final in September.

Further details such as date and venue will be announced when they become available.

Entrants will take part in stages based on personality, appearance, style and will also be competing to take the title of Miss Charity which is given to the contestant who raises the most money for Cash for Kids, the official charity of Metro Radio and TFM who are the event beneficiaries.

This year’s theme is ‘Icons’ and the current Miss Newcastle GB Nicole Bailey and Miss Sunderland GB Natasha Phelps came together this week along with other models from Headline Models for a special photo-shoot with award winning photographer David Lawson to launch the new event.

Cash for Kids regional manager Stephanie Simpson said: “We are delighted to be the beneficiary of this very special event in 2015.

“The entrant crowned Miss Charity gets a fast track to the final eight so that is a fantastic incentive for the girls to really get involved.

“If they do go on to represent their country, fundraising and charity work will be an integral part of their duties so this is a great way for them to show off their charitable nature and commitment to helping others.

“All of the money raised by the girls stays right here to help disabled and disadvantaged children.”

Entries are currently open for females aged between 17 and 27-years-old.